A MAN who was cleared of rape has been told he can’t sue his accuser who turned the claim into an art project.

Sulkowicz accused Nungesser of rape – a claim the university cleared him of

Visual Arts student Emma Sulkowicz carried her mattress around campus in a protest against Paul Nungesser in 2012, gaining worldwide media coverage as it went on.

Nungesser has since claimed the unwanted attention hurt his academic experience, made him fear for his safety and forced him to return to his native Germany after graduation to find a job.

But despite the alleged support of the university and Visual Arts professor Jon Kessler who oversaw the girl’s thesis, the judge in the case said a ruling banning gender discrimination by schools receiving federal money did not apply.

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Sulkowicz carried the mattress around campus in protest as part of an art project